Round tables and workshops for information and feedback.
Nicolas Hesse, Deputy Prefect for Defense and Security, South-West Zone
October 14th morning
The increasing conflictuality of international relations—particularly the war in Ukraine at Europe’s doorstep—is forcing European states, including France, to recalibrate their defense industrial and technological base. This includes scaling up their drone sectors, which were still in the technological development phase prior to 2022. Transitioning from R&D environments to fully developed supply chains is crucial for the future of these emerging players and for the broader "New Defence" economy that is beginning to take shape. This conference will address these challenges, featuring insights from those who are experiencing them daily in France and in active war zones.
October 14th afternoon
Force massing is a concept that goes hand-in-hand with the return of high-intensity warfare and attrition. In an era where human resources are limited, increasing the number of vectors is key. Drones may be the answer. For air and naval forces, new tools are emerging: MALE, UCAV, Loyal Wingman... These acronyms refer to drones that are no longer disposable but are becoming high-value (and optionally expendable) assets. But for what doctrines, and to what extent? Armed forces and innovative companies will present their perspectives and solutions to meet the challenges of today’s and tomorrow’s conflicts.
October 14th afternoon
Since its emergence in the mid-2000s, the drone sector has sometimes outpaced regulation, with technological leaps enabling it to rival manned aviation—even over populated areas. Regulators, whether national (DGAC) or European (EASA), play a key role in finding the right regulatory balance to allow the drone industry—constantly evolving—to coexist with the broader aeronautical environment. This ongoing search for compromise can lead to tensions within a dynamic yet fragile sector. At each UAV SHOW, the floor is given to those shaping regulation and those living with its consequences. This year, certification and standardization will be central to the discussions. Is this a sign of the sector’s maturity? Or of increasing vulnerabilities for drone stakeholders? The debate will be open during this conference.
October 15th morning
The environmental challenges linked to climate change demand new tools for prevention and intervention. Whether it’s monitoring coastal erosion, preventing wildfires, or protecting people and property, drones are playing an increasingly prominent role alongside field actors. Since the beginning of the UAV SHOW, this topic has been a recurring focus, and the event now bears witness to a vital evolution for the preservation of our societies: understanding challenges through the third dimension. In this conference, we will hear from various environmental and planning institutions about their use of drones and the data collected from these platforms.
October 15th afternoon
Whether aerial, ground-based, or naval, drones are unmanned platforms. But can they truly be considered autonomous? Today, most drones are remotely piloted, with the cognitive load shifted—but not eliminated—from the human operator, maintaining a constant human-machine link. This link becomes a vulnerability in complex or remote missions, as it can reveal the operator’s location. Making drones more autonomous is therefore a critical goal in both defense and civilian spheres. The rise of AI is converging with drone technology, and many players are seeking to fuse the two. How do these two worlds collaborate? What are the opportunities and limitations of this fusion? The key actors of this (r)evolution will share their vision and work during this roundtable discussion, which will close the 2025 edition of the UAV SHOW—and likely shape the next.